Author: Jacob Loeb

Jacob Loeb began writing for newspapers in high school, first for the school's publication and then for a Vashon, Washington, community paper. He graduated college with a degree in English Literature and Television Communications. After graduating, Loeb worked in film distribution for a pioneering DVD company that supported independent filmmakers. Years later, he wrote for a weekly newsletter about technology and ran a popular computer advice column called Ask Jacob. Moving to the Montavilla neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, with his family in 2005, Loeb firmly planted roots in the community and now writes for the Montavilla News. He is a Society of Professional Journalists member and volunteers with non-profit organizations serving East Portland. ~
Community, New Residence

Harrison Community Village Shelter Public Meeting Feb 26

As the Multnomah County Homeless Services Department (HSD) readies the Harrison Community Village Shelter at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue for future residents, they invite people to attend a Public Meeting on February 26th. Nonprofit provider Do Good Multnomah will operate the alternative shelter under a “clean and sober” model. Interested community members can attend the 6:30 p.m. in-person event this Thursday. Portland Community College will host the meeting in its Community Hall Annex at 7901 SE Division Street.

Shelter operators anticipate opening the facility in spring 2026 and have worked on a Good Neighbor Agreement with community and business stakeholders to lessen the impact of the Harrison Community Village Shelter on surrounding properties. Multnomah County purchased the former recreational vehicle dealership at 1818 SE 82nd Avenue in December 2022 for $2.015 million. This 34,000-square-foot parcel was the second Montavilla location the County bought that year for temporary shelter services. The other shelter, Oak Street Village at 333 SE 82nd Avenue, opened in February 2025 and is currently operating at full capacity. The Joint Office of Homeless Services — now renamed the Homeless Services Department — has held several community meetings, including one in April that announced that Do Good Multnomah would operate the site as a sober shelter. Presenters explained that residents and staff are subject to drug testing, and policy strictly prohibits the possession of non-prescribed intoxicants on the property. Selecting a sober format meets a specific need for people transitioning into stable housing who are in recovery from substance use disorder, and it better matches community desires for the site, which is near two Portland Public Schools.

A labeled diagram of the Harrison Community Village layout, showing various designated areas including sleeping units, community space, staff space, showers, and landscaping. The map highlights entry points and features like a fence and recycling area.
Harrison Community Village Shelter site map courtesy HSD

HSD will contract with the operator to staff the alternative shelter site at all hours of the day. The adult residents will receive one of 38 private sleeping quarters, each with a shed-style pod design. Six converted shipping container units will provide office space for staff, participant services, hygiene facilities, kitchenette amenities, and laundry facilities. Residents and their pets will have on-site access to green space. The site will receive upgraded fencing with privacy inserts on all street sides and a wood fence between the adjacent residential property to the east. The site intends to offer more than short-term shelter. People in the program will have access to dedicated housing case management and abstinence-based recovery services to help with long-term substance use recovery and housing stability.

The HSD meeting organizers ask that people complete an online form at the Harrison Community Village Shelter website to attend the 90-minute public meeting on February 26th. Attendees can also review the draft Good Neighbor Agreement prior to the meeting to better understand the work created by the Agreement Parties, which include representatives from the 82nd Avenue Business Association, African Youth & Community Organization, APANO, Montavilla Neighborhood Association, Portland Community College, and Portland Public Schools.

By

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Event, Food and Drink

Zwickelmania Brewery Shuttle Service Loops Through Montavilla on Feb 21st

On February 21st, Zwickelmania returns to Oregon, with two of Montavilla’s breweries joining more than 55 other craft beer makers from across the state. Host businesses offer attendees Zwickel tasting pours from the fermentation tanks and guided brewery tours. Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street and Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue will again participate in this annual celebration of local beer makers. Event organizers will offer free sober transportation between sites via a network of shuttle buses, which should broaden participants’ exposure to Portland’s selection of independent brewers.

Zwickelmania is an annual celebration of Oregon craft beer during Oregon Craft Beer Month, organized by the Oregon Brewers Guild. Member breweries open their production facility to the public for a behind-the-scenes view of their operation and to offer unique sampling opportunities. The event’s name stems from the industry term Zwickel, describing the valve or sample port mounted outside a cask or tank. Brewers use those ports to test the product during fermentation, and this annual event allows people 21 years or older to taste beer from a producer’s perspective.

Promotional flyer for Montavilla Brew Works featuring event details for Zwickelmania on February 21st, including brewery tours, beer tastings, and giveaways.

The 2026 beer-centric program offers a safe way for event attendees to visit more breweries through a free shuttle service that transports them to 16 participating Portland establishments. Attendees can catch one of six vehicles driving on two routes throughout the Eastside. This service allows drinkers to experience the event in several neighborhoods without getting behind the wheel or losing time taking indirect public transit. The participating businesses want people to enjoy the experience without overindulging while learning about the region’s craft beer producers. “We have bags of pretzels we’ll probably put on the tables to keep people eating and keep them hydrated,” said Michael Kora of Montavilla Brew Works. “Because if you get on the bus and even hit half of one of these routes, that’s a party.” During the event hours of 11 a.m. through 5 p.m., buses will depart from each location approximately every 30 minutes. The two shuttle routes overlap at Migration Brewing on NE Glisan Street for riders to transfer. However, there are too many participating locations to reach them all via the bus service during the event timeline, so people must plan to visit their favorite locations first or decide to explore some new beer makers.

Interior view of a brewing facility, featuring stainless steel fermentation tanks, a staircase, and various brewing equipment.
Montavilla Brew Works at 7805 SE Stark Street

Kora explained that Montavilla Brew Works has always made beer production front and center in its tap room, with the fermentation tanks only protected by a table-height wall and a roped-off entrance. “I think you can go to a lot of breweries and there’s a pub out front and there’s some stainless [tanks in the back]. I guess there’s a brewery back there, but we’ve always liked to have it showcased,” Kora said. “So on a day like[Zwickelmania], it’s even more fun because people can cross the line and go into our workspace and hang out with us.” The brewery will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday, with the last tour starting around 4:30 p.m. People on the tour can have free samples at the brewer’s discretion, but patrons must pay for anything ordered at the bar or from the Oi! The Sausage food vender working the event. Kora said he will release a new Scottish Porter at the event, adding to a line of brews he has created that honors his heritage. “My mom came here when she was eight years old with her family. Cruised into Ellis Island, signed papers, and moved to Michigan. My grandparents started a family and started a new life. So I get to be a first-generation American,” recalled Kora. “Scottish beers often are thought of as very heavy, big alcohol, dark, which is true in some of them. But the Scots drink a lot of lager, they drink IPAs, they drink porters. So we’re starting to look into more historical styles and bring them out. It’s a cool story to tell, and they’re really good beers.”

Threshold will open for brewery tours every hour starting at 11 a.m. People can also find special beer tappings, unique food menu items, a prize raffle, and a live DJ. The Threshold team also created an “Ultimate Zwickelmania Survival Kit” consisting of wearable snacks, hydration, energy boosts, Underberg digestif bitter, a shuttle map, and a glossary of brewhouse terms. These are offered on a first-come, first-served basis to Threshold visitors while supplies last.

Interior view of a brewery with a wooden bar displaying merchandise and drinks, two staff members behind the counter, and a chalkboard menu listing various beverages and events.
Threshold Brewing & Blending at 403 SE 79th Avenue

Zwickelmania’s organizers gear the event toward craft beer enthusiasts who can sample directly from the Zwickel port, find unique beer releases, take tours, and meet brewers who provide educational talks. Kora also stressed how important it is to reach a wider audience that may not know about the breweries in Montavilla. “Zwickelmania sometimes brings out people that are not as familiar with us, or the brand, or the neighborhood. And so that’s where I get really excited.” Some host locations will offer food and beer pairings or specials. This non-ticketed event will only cost the price of beer and food at each location. Designated drivers can also find non-alcoholic drinks at the event. Oi! The Sausage will start selling grilled single sausages on a bun at Montavilla Brew Works in the afternoon. People interested in attending should visit the Zwickelmania website for more information and an up-to-date list of participating brewers.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Event flyer for Zwickelmania, an Oregon brewery tour, scheduled for Saturday, February 21 from 11 am to 5 pm, featuring a free shuttle service with buses departing approximately every 30 minutes. The map displays two routes with various breweries highlighted.
BreweryWhat They Offer
1188 Brewing CompanyFood and beer pairings, specials, vote for your favorite beer
Allgood Brewing CompanyTours, meet the brewer, $5 pint specials all day
Arch Rock BrewingBrewery tours, zwickel and/or other free samples
Away Days BrewingPin of cask ale for free samples and education about cask conditioned beers
Baerlic Brewing CompanyBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, pizza from Ranch Pizza
Barsideous BrewingGhost stories, guided theater and brewery tours, special beer releases, zwickel samples
Bevel Craft BrewingBrewery tours, zwickel samples, meet the brewer, special beer release
Binary Brewing Co.Brewery tours, special beer release, brewing education, zwickel samples
Boneyard BeerNew beer release, self-guided tours, zwickel samples, free pickles, food truck
Breakside Brewery – SlabtownSpecial beer release, brewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
Buoy Beer CoState of Excitement beer for 25 cents from 5:00-5:15pm (1 per customer)
Claim 52 BrewingFinal Zwickelmania at original location, zwickel samples with brewers
Conversion BrewingBrewing and ingredient education, guided tasting, brewery tours
Cooper Mountain Ale WorksFood and beer pairing flights, brewery tours, meet the brewer, special release
Crooked Creek BreweryBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials, free coozies
Crux Fermentation ProjectSamples off barrels, special beer release, beer pairings
Deschutes Brewery – BendSelf-guided tours, samples of beers, NA brews, flavored malt beverages
Deschutes Brewery – PortlandBrewery tours (first come, first served), meet brewers, special releases, food specials
Double Mountain BrewingShort tours all day with small bites and zwickel samples, complimentary glass
Falling Sky BrewingBrewery tours and zwickel samples all day
Ferment Brewing CompanyBrewing process tours, zwickel samples, special beer release
Fort George BreweryFull production facility tour, meet the brewer, multiple zwickel samples
Gigantic Brewing CompanyBrewery tours, zwickel tastings, live music in Barrel Room, Flying Fish oysters and seafood
Grand Fir BrewingBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials
Ground Breaker BrewingGluten-free brewery tour with educational points, zwickel samples, food specials with Salvi PDX
Golden Valley BreweryGuided educational tours and samples at 12pm and 2pm
Heater Allen/Gold Dot BeerBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, beer & pretzel pairings
Hopworks Urban BreweryBrewery tours, pizza and beer pairings
Krauski’s Brewski’sNano brewery tours, samples from the source, meet the brewer, live music 6-9pm
Lazy Days BrewingBrewer tours, special beer release, pizza & food specials, zwickel samples
Leikam BrewingRecords with Tasha from Second Chance records, brewery tours, zwickel samples
Level BeerBrewer led tours, tank samples, free hop water for designated drivers
Living Haus Beer CoBrewery tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
Lucky Lab BrewingBrewery tours and guided tastings
Migration Brewing Co.16th Anniversary celebration, collaborations with Upright and Threshold, tours, zwickel samples
***Montavilla Brew Works***Oi! The Sausage food cart, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, raffles, cask beer release, live music
Ninkasi BrewingSpecial beer release
Oakshire BrewingFood & beer specials, special flight, Hellshire XV barrel-aged blend release
Old Town BrewingBrewery tours, zwickel samples, guided tastings, pizza and beer pairings with Baby Doll Pizza
pFriem Family Brewers – Hood RiverExclusive brewery tours, complimentary beer tastings, small bites
pFriem Family Brewers – MilwaukieComplimentary beer tastings, small bites
Public CoastBrewery tours, guided tasting, zwickel samples
Root and Rye Hop Farm & BreweryFirst pint for $5, meet the brewery, tours and zwickel samples
Side A BrewingBrewery tours and samplings, Dead of Winter party
Sisu Brewing Co.Brewery tours and samples at 12pm and 1pm on historic theater stage
Spider City BrewingTime slots with head brewer Melanie Betti, brewery tour/history, guided tasting, food specials
Steeplejack Brewing Co.Brewery tours, special pin tapping, food and beer pairings
StormBreaker BrewingBrewery tours, guided tastings, zwickel samples, barrel-aged bottle ring toss, prize wheel, 12th anniversary
Sunriver BrewingBurlington Hazy IPA release, maple sugar primed cask, Vermont-themed food, ice cream float shots
Terranaut BeerBrewery tours, special beer release, meet the brewer, zwickel samples
***Threshold Brewery and Blending***Hourly tours, free shuttle every 30 min, Ultimate Zwickelmania Survival Pack™, food specials
Thunder Island Brewing CoBrewery tours, meet the brewer, guided tastings with small bites, zwickel samples
UPP LiquidsMeet the brewers, beer samples with Bavarian pretzel pairings, tours
Von Ebert BrewingBrewer led tours, zwickel samples, guided tastings, free bottle openers
Wayfinder BeerBrewery tours, guided tastings, meet the brewer, zwickel samples, food specials
Wild Ride BrewingGuided tours, meet the brewers, zwickel samples, complimentary beer & cookie pairings
Worthy BrewingMeet the brewer, brewer-led tours, zwickel samples, swag raffle, $5 pints, $3 fries, $6 pizza bites
Zoiglhaus BrewingBrewer lead tours, meet the brewer, zwickel samples

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Construction, New Residence

Four Townhomes on E Burnside Street

Work is underway on four townhomes at 8426 E Burnside Street, built in clusters of two massings joined by a common trash room. The project is occupying a previously undeveloped parcel that once served as the extended yard of the adjacent home to the west of the property. Recently, cement masons erected the foundations for the new 1,000-square-foot homes. The two-story buildings will offer residents two-bedroom units with two and a half bathrooms, to be sold as condos without income restrictions.

Architectural drawing of the north (front) facade of a house, showing dimensions, materials, and design details including windows, doors, and roofing.
North elevation of 8426-8432 E Burnside St courtesy Leon Simms

Although all units are attached, project developer Leon Simms explained that he and the architect, Bayard Mentrum, worked together to create three outer walls for each unit. “The nice thing is we were able to split them so there’s no middle units,” said Simms. The residences function as two duplexes with a small one-story utility structure sitting between them. The sidewalk-adjacent unit faces East Burnside Street, while the other home’s doors face east, connecting to a walkway. The back of the units connects to a small yard via large double glass doors. The alignment of the buildings should obscure the true quantity of homes, so that most people passing the site will not immediately detect the housing density tucked behind.

Simms said that the builder, Martin Kehoe with Portland Leeds Living, will construct the main floor with nine-foot high ceilings, and people will access the homes through eight-foot tall doors. This feature helps make the homes feel larger and of high quality. Each bedroom will have its own attached ensuite bathroom on the second floor, with the other half restroom located on the first floor.

Architectural drawing of an east facade of two residential buildings, illustrating the layout, window placements, and structural details.
East elevation of 8426-8432 E Burnside St courtesy Leon Simms

This project will take advantage of temporary System Development Charge (SDC) exemptions enacted by the Portland City Council that apply to permits issued from August 15th, 2025, through September 30th, 2028. These fees are typically paid by developers to support public costs incurred as the city expands public infrastructure for sewer, water, parks, and transportation to accommodate the additional demand on those services by new residents in an area. City leaders hope removing those construction fees will help builders start projects and deliver more affordable products to the housing market. “We’re going to be one of the first to take advantage of the SDC waiver program, so that there’s not any income restriction,” said Simms. He explained that these types of homes often use the Homebuyer Opportunity Limited Tax Exemption (HOLTE) program to remove property taxes for up to ten years. It has a homebuyer income limit of 100 percent of the median family income for a family of four in the region. This and other affordability program restrictions can exclude people who would benefit from a lower entry point into home ownership, but are making just enough to not qualify. “A lot of people that want to buy these more affordable, small new homes but make a little bit too much money,” remarked Simms.

Construction site with concrete foundations laid for a new building, surrounded by a fence and trees.

Leon Simms is a fan of infill housing but has only recently started working on projects east of the Willamette River. “I’ve always been a Westside guy. I’ve been in the new home sales business for almost 40 years, but I’ve been 99% Westside,” Simms said. He likes this area and thinks these homes will be a “cute” addition to the neighborhood. They are walking distance from the historic Montavilla Downtown on SE Stark Street and near transit options. This section of East Burnside Street has curbside parking only on the north side, across the street from the development. However, it is often underutilized and buffered from passing traffic by a bike lane, making it a suitable place for residents to park. Work on the units is moving quickly, and people should expect to see them take shape over the next few months.

  • 8426 E Burnside Street
  • 8428 E Burnside Street
  • 8430 E Burnside Street
  • 8432 E Burnside Street

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Construction, Infrastructure

Two-month Westbound NE Halsey Detour at I-84

Starting Monday, February 16th, westbound motorists on NE Halsey Street need to take a detour to NE 82nd Avenue during the next two months of construction on a new mini-roundabout. Eastbound travelers should not experience any significant disruption, but northbound users of NE 80th and NE 81st Avenues will continue to experience local-access restrictions from NE Clackamas Street to NE Halsey Street.

Crews recently completed half of a new mini-roundabout along NE Halsey Street as contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation install street-level bike and pedestrian safety infrastructure, along with upgraded underground stormwater management pipes that connect with relocated catch basins. This street reconfiguration includes reconstructed sidewalks and curbs on sections of NE Halsey at notoriously challenging intersections with multimodal conflict points.

A map illustrating traffic directions for westbound NE Halsey St, highlighting required use of the I-84 onramp after NE 84th Ave. Features green arrows for bidirectional traffic and orange arrows indicating temporary one-way traffic.
Portland Maps image with MV News illustrations

This work is part of the NE Halsey Street (68th to 92nd Avenues) – Safety and Access to Transit Project. It builds on substantial street safety improvements undertaken in 2024, when roadwork reconfigured NE Halsey Street between 68th and 81st Avenues, removing a lane in each direction while adding painted buffered bike lanes and a center turn lane. In this section of the project, the new mini-roundabout at NE 80th Avenue and Halsey Street will address a confusing intersection, located just before one of the three NE Halsey Street freeway overpasses. Renderings posted show that people will have access to high-visibility pedestrian and bike crossings. Rebuilt and extended corners will also shorten the crossing distance, and new sidewalk segments will guide users to pathways that lead to transit connections. When contractors complete work at NE 81st Avenue, cyclists will have access to a bi-directional buffered bike track on the south side of NE Halsey Street, extending up to NE 92nd Avenue.

Map of a roundabout intersection featuring NE Halsey Street, NE 80th Street, and NE 81st Street, alongside the I-84 Eastbound off-ramp.
PBOT provided illustration showing the NE Halsey, NE 80th, and 81st junction with mini roundabout

PBOT chose this intersection design to reduce crashes while keeping traffic flowing. The roundabout will slow drivers and reduce conflict points, without requiring drivers to come to a complete stop unless a cyclist, pedestrian, or other vehicle has the right of way. The infrastructure should have a lower lifecycle cost because it does not rely on electric traffic signal equipment. Buses and fire trucks can easily drive through the center of the roundabout to make tight turns when needed, improving safety without impacting critical travel routes.

The next phase of work will focus on the northern half of the mini-roundabout, following the recent completion of the southern portion. Crews will continue to work at the site from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. All driveways on these blocks will remain open for people traveling to or from the worksite. However, street users should anticipate additional detours and follow all instructions from crews working in the area.

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure, Transportation

TriMet Moves Forward with Nearly 7 Miles of Transit-Priority Lanes on 82nd Ave

On Friday, February 13th, TriMet leadership instructed the 82nd Avenue Transit Project designers to work toward creating 7 miles of Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes along most of Portland’s portion of 82nd Avenue. The transformative project would convert the 72 bus line into a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system under TriMet’s FX (Frequent Express) moniker, with high-capacity vehicles, modern stations, traffic signal priority, and, now, transit priority on the outer lanes of 82nd Avenue. This updated project scope will increase the current project’s proposed $350 million budget by at least $8 million, and the project partners are depending on yet-unawarded $150 million in federal funding.

TriMet General Manager Sam Desue Jr. made the directive to advance the incorporation of significant BAT lane allocation in the design at the project’s Policy & Budget Committee meeting. This follows months of public dispute over restricting a lane of automotive travel in each direction on a busy north/south connector road that was formerly a state highway until transferring to Portland’s ownership in 2022. BAT lanes serve two primary functions in a transportation network. They are focused on providing local access for vehicles on congested streets and on providing transit systems with a less encumbered lane to move more reliably between stops. Advocates for the design note that driving to a business’s parking lot entrance on a busy road requires a visitor to wait in rush-hour congestion even if they turn onto the street a block away. In those conditions, it can also take a significant time for a motorist leaving a driveway to exit and merge into traffic. BAT lanes can help address those situations by requiring all outer-lane travelers in private vehicles to turn right within a block. Supporters also tout the BAT lanes used by emergency vehicles, which can speed through congestion when time matters.

A green public transit bus stopped at a modern bus station with a clear shelter and seating area, surrounded by bike lanes and pedestrian pathways.

BAT lanes are strongly supported by surveyed residents who favor a faster, more effective BRT system on 82nd Avenue. People who spoke in support at the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meetings also appreciated the anticipated reduced speed of BAT lanes on the curb adjacent portion of the road. 82nd Avenue once had parking along its outer edges that later became travel lanes, leaving pedestrians and fast-moving vehicles inches apart. However, many businesses are concerned about the economic impact of a sudden change in vehicle throughput. Although 82nd Avenue is not at capacity at all times of day, it does often become congested, and transportation models indicate that introducing this level of BAT lanes will divert 20 to 25 percent of traffic to other routes during peak times. Local businesses that started their ventures on a state highway years ago worry that this change will force them to relocate or close as their customers take a different route to avoid heightened congestion. People advocating for 82nd Avenue to transform into a more pedestrian-forward design say that new shoppers will come by foot and by bus, but that mode shift can take years, and many of the small businesses that have made up 82nd Avenue’s culture say they cannot survive the transition timeline, which is far from certain.

Map showing city/county limits with SE Clatsop St and NE Lombard St, intersecting streets including SE Powell Blvd and SE Foster Rd, and I-84 orientation.
Feb 13 Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes graphic courtesy TriMet with MV News directional notation

The TriMet adopted design for BAT lanes closely represents the community-supported design, and the project 82nd Avenue Transit Project CAC endorsed design, referred to as the “More BAT Lanes” option, with one notable exception. The nearly seven miles of transit-priority updates will stop before and resume after SE Powell Boulevard. During the January 28th CAC meeting, presenters explained that because that cross street is still a state highway, the Oregon Department of Transportation would require significant improvements at that intersection and on SE 92nd Avenue to accommodate the agency’s design standards for vehicle throughput. They explained that it would dramatically increase project costs or significantly delay the design process, seeking exemptions.

The project is targeting a 72 FX Line opening in 2029 and still has many milestones to meet before construction can begin. Planners need to find additional funds for the BAT lane portion of the project and secure federal funding in a challenging time for states seeking support from national leaders. TriMet says the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) gave the project a Medium-High rating, a strong indicator that it could receive those funds. Proponents of the BRT investment point to this corridor as an essential focus for efforts. TriMet’s Line 72 bus provides nearly 66,000 rides each week and is the busiest bus line in TriMet’s system. It also represents the highest-ridership bus line in all of Oregon, making it an ideal candidate for upsizing to strengthen the network’s backbone. Many riders use this route along 82nd Avenue to the Clackamas Town Center to connect with other lines. Transit designers say reliable and timely performance is essential to improving the network and reducing future congestion by getting more people out of personal vehicles for daily commutes. People can provide comments and learn more at the project website (trimet.org/82nd/).

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Disclosure: The author of this article previously served on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC).

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Greg Beddor – SEO Specialist, an Oregon based digital marketing consultancy. The company markets customer’s websites and provide SEO services to grow their business. We thank them for their support.

Construction, New Residence

Sixteen Detached Homes Complete on East Burnside

Recently, crews completed paving work on the NE 92nd Place-94th Avenue Alley off East Burnside Street, leading to 16 new two-story homes. Each of the back 15 units has attached garages, and the front home features a wide parking pad. This development project transformed a former automotive storage and wrecking yard into an urban subdivision with family-sized units.

Low-angle view of a newly paved street with a storm drain in the foreground and residential buildings lining the sides.
Stormwater management on paved alleyway

The approximately 20-foot-wide asphalt-paved alley has a concrete center channel that connects to stormwater inlets, which will control rain runoff from extensive paving at this site. The developer widened the once-overgrown gravel alley that connects East Burnside Street to a private street serving a 1996-era housing development. The public right-of-way alley continues north to NE Glisan Street but is blocked by parked vehicles and overgrown vegetation beyond this recently improved loop. Although the alley is not for through traffic, work at this site built a street-grid connection that facilitated significant housing density.

A newly constructed residential area featuring multiple houses, a sidewalk, and a recently paved street, surrounded by landscaping and a split rail fence.

Most of the new homes have a similar floor plan, with the frontmost home deviating from the design pattern in two notable ways. In addition to not offering interior vehicle storage, 9251 E Burnside Street has one less bathroom on the second floor than its 15 neighbors to the north. Designers also placed that unit’s stacked laundry closet on the ground floor rather than the upper level. All homes in this project have three bedrooms and an open concept main level. Each has a half-bath powder room on the first floor under the stairs. Six of the back units are designed to meet Portland’s visitability standards for universal access on the main level. They have a concrete ramp to the front doors that bypasses the steps and a larger ground-floor bathroom. Those larger restrooms extend past the outer wall, creating pop-out space with interior capacity to accommodate an unobstructed circle at least 60 inches in diameter. Both features help people in mobility devices enter the structure and use all the lower-level facilities. All 15 back-homes have a primary suite on the second floor with an attached bathroom and a double closet.

Row of modern suburban homes with various colors and architectural styles, featuring garages and front porches.
Six units with concrete ramps to the front doors that bypasses steps meeting visitability standards

The homes use a condominium land structure with a small monthly homeowners’ association (HOA) fee. Units also have fire sprinkler systems required in modern builds of this density. One of the units is currently listed for $439,900, with the others expected to become available soon. This site is walking distance from several transit options, including the MAX light rail system, and East Burnside Street has dedicated bike lanes. This location would be a good home for non-drivers or families that only have one car. However, this development still provides significant parking with space for up to two vehicles per home, along with infrastructure improvements that many opponents of some infill housing say must be part of density projects. The design team transformed a blighted commercial property into housing that fits the scale and style of the surrounding structures. Look for homes to fill with new residents over the coming months.

  • 9251 E Burnside Street
  • 9253 E Burnside Street
  • 9255 E Burnside Street
  • 9257 E Burnside Street
  • 9259 E Burnside Street
  • 9261 E Burnside Street
  • 9263 E Burnside Street
  • 9265 E Burnside Street
  • 9267 E Burnside Street
  • 9269 E Burnside Street
  • 9271 E Burnside Street
  • 9273 E Burnside Street
  • 9275 E Burnside Street
  • 9277 E Burnside Street
  • 9279 E Burnside Street
  • 9281 E Burnside Street

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

Promotion: Montavilla News is supported by contributions from businesses like Otter Wax, a neighborhood producer of small-batch specialty goods handcrafted in Portland. Using only natural ingredients, they make modern care products that are steeped in tradition. We thank them for their support.

Infrastructure

Parking Protected Bike Lanes on SE Washington

At the end of January, crews working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) completed the installation of slightly raised concrete separators for the newly created parking-buffered bike lane on the south side of SE Washington Street. This new physical infrastructure helps keep parking vehicles from encroaching on the curbside non-automotive path. However, the installation of the bicycle safety infrastructure on the one-way street is not universally appreciated by street users.

A street scene showing a utility work sign, traffic cones, and a bike lane marking, indicating ongoing construction. Wooden planks are laid across the road.
Concrete forms for lane separators on SE Washingtons St looking east from SE 76th Ave Jan 27th, 2026 (Crossett Freilinger)

In August, 2025, crews with Specialized Pavement Marking (SPM) removed lane markings on SE Thorburn, Stark, and Washington Streets as part of PBOT’s reconfiguration of the roads to improve safety for bike and pedestrian use. Road marking contractors repainted the streets, changing the traffic pattern for drivers on SE Thorburn and Washington Streets who lost a lane of travel in each direction. Bike lane users gained a protected route from SE Gilham Avenue to SE 92nd Avenue. PBOT retained much of the existing street parking on both sides of SE Washington Street for a critical two-block segment near the historic Montavilla downtown area. The road striping plan removed south curbside parking on SE Washington and replaced it with bike-lane-adjacent parking from SE 76th to 80th Avenues, creating a protected buffer for the five-foot-wide curbside cyclist route. To accommodate driveway access and maintain driver visibility, PBOT reduced parking capacity on the south side of the street, painting a white hatch pattern where vehicles should not stop and creating painted stalls where cars can park.

During the last six months, drivers have used the painted markings with varied success. At times, people continued to park against the southern curb, blocking the bike lane, or used the hatched area for parking. The addition of the raised concrete separators on the northern edge of the bike lane has helped keep vehicles aligned with their space, giving motorists’ tires a tactile street element to detect the proper position without extending into the bike lane. The width of the concrete separator also keeps vehicles from creating an open door obstacle for bike lane users. One of the challenges bike riders face in some parking-protected lanes comes from car doors opening into the lane. If the door is longer than the bike lane’s width and the vehicle is close to the outer edge of the lane, the rider is trapped between the parked vehicles and the curb, with no space to veer around an open door. In SE Washington’s configuration, most open passenger doors should allow enough room for the cyclist or scooter rider to hug the curb and zip around the vehicle’s door.

A street scene featuring orange traffic cones along a curved road, traffic lights with green signals, and residential houses in the background. A bicycle lane is marked on the pavement, and wet ground indicates recent rain.
SE Washington St west of SE 76th Ave (Jacob Loeb)

Even with these recent concrete additions, some cyclists say they feel trapped in parking-protected bike lanes and fear reduced visibility to drivers who may turn across the path without noticing riders behind the parked cars. That has led some safety advocates to point to Dutch-style, physically separated, and often raised bike infrastructure that places the bike path next to the pedestrian sidewalk and pushes the planting strips and furniture zone, with utility poles, towards the curb. This design is costly to retrofit into existing streets because it often requires relocating overhead and below-ground utility lines. It also requires additional markings to help cyclists and pedestrians properly navigate a shared sidewalk space without conflict.

Some local business owners and drivers using this route have expressed dissatisfaction with the loss of a travel lane on the one-way street. During peak usage times, traffic can back up as motorists wait for the traffic lights at SE 76th, 82nd, and 92nd Avenues. Similarly, during the weekend farmers market or on busy evenings, the slightly fewer parking spots on SE Washington Street will require people to park farther into the residential portion of the neighborhood. However, at most times of day, the street flows without significant traffic buildup, and the commercial streets of Montavilla historically lacked sufficient capacity to accommodate the number of visitors seeking parking during big events. For years, drivers have ventured into the surrounding residential areas to park their vehicles during those peak times.

A street scene showing a construction barrier on a roadway, parked cars in the background, and a pedestrian walking with a red umbrella along the sidewalk. A speed limit sign for 30 is visible.
SE Washington St showing hight of raised concrete lane separator (Jacob Loeb)

For cyclists and scooter users riding in this new lane, the raised concrete separators help align the parked cars, providing protection. They also help motorists interact with the uncommon parking arrangement. However, these raised separators are shorter than a curb and beveled so vehicles can easily drive over them. They do not offer full protection for cyclists beyond simply encouraging drivers to stay in their lanes, and drivers will need to adapt to this new traffic pattern and parking system. Until then, all street users should use caution in this area and look for unexpected conflict points.

By

Jacob Loeb

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Construction, New Residence

Home with ADU Sprouting Up Along New Sidewalk

Crews recently built the foundation for a new home and attached Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) at 2701 SE 85th Avenue and will soon begin framing on the three-story structure. This lot has remained vacant since the previous property owner demolished the original single-story home in 2018. In 2021, Ernie Jette Construction bought the 1,936-square-foot corner property after it was split from the parcel that currently supports a 1997-era duplex. Since then, contractors working for the City of Portland have paved the adjacent gravel road and constructed modern sidewalks, saving the developer from having to provide that infrastructure along SE Clinton Street.

The two new homes will have sloped shed roofs, giving them a flat front appearance towards the street. The main residence will face SE 85th Avenue and stand three stories tall, while the ADU will face SE Clinton Street and be one level shorter. Both units will have open main floors with living and kitchen space. Designers placed a half-bathroom under the stairs on the first floor, with a full bathroom on the second floor serving two adjacent bedrooms. The primary residence has the owner’s suite on the third floor with its own attached bathroom and walk-in closet. The larger home will offer future residents 1,426 square feet of living space, and the ADU will provide 789 square feet of living space.

Construction site with a wooden foundation frame on a gravel base, surrounded by a fence, portable toilet, and nearby homes.

The infrastructure work in this area is part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, which created new sidewalks on SE Clinton Street from SE 84th to 87th Avenues, among many other updates. These additions help ready this area for future housing density. Much of the surrounding lots are Residential Multi-Dwelling 1 (RM1) zoned for low-scale multi-dwelling development. Replacing the gravel streets with modern infrastructure is essential as more residents will need to walk, roll, or drive through the area. Although Ernie Jette said that the new streets and sidewalks were not a deciding factor for creating this project, he is happy with the timing.

This section of the Jade District, bordered by SE Division Street, SE 82nd Avenue, SE Powell Boulevard, and Interstate-205, still has many streets and sidewalks in need of updates. Some of that work will occur during redevelopment, but for smaller developments, adding the infrastructure costs to a project can significantly increase the selling price of a home. When the City can leverage Federal funds and System Development Charge (SDC) funds to bring the area up to modern street standards, as they did in this area, it can make it easier to add housing density within a community and lessen the burden on neighbors by providing curbside parking and more efficient streets and sidewalks.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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Community, Transportation

Rosa Parks Birthday Free Transit Feb 4

TriMet will honor Rosa Parks with free rides for all passengers this Wednesday, February 4th. Transit operators will suspend fare collection on that day until 2 a.m. February 5th. Portland Streetcar and C-TRAN operators will also offer rides without cost in observation of the civil rights icon’s 113th birthday. Riders who tap a Hop card or ticket will receive confirmation of valid fare, but the automated systems won’t charge them, and ticket machines will not allow any ticket purchases on February 4th.

In 2020, TriMet’s District 5 Director Keith Edwards proposed the resolution declaring Parks’ birthday as a day of remembrance across the public transportation system. That year, TriMet adopted the fare holiday across the 533-square-mile service district to recognize Parks’ contribution to the Civil Rights Movement. 2026 is the sixth straight year TriMet has commemorated the bravery of Parks, whose name is most notably associated with the struggle to bring equity to public transportation as part of a wider racial equality movement.

Graphic honoring Rosa Parks with her silhouette, text stating 'RIDE FREE' and 'Feb 4 Celebrating Rosa Parks' birthday'.
Graphic courtesy TriMet

On December 1st, 1955, Rosa Parks challenged Montgomery, Alabama’s segregationist city ordinance that required black Americans to give up seats in the “Colored” section of the bus for white riders when the reserved white section ran out of seats. Parks’ refusal of the bus driver’s commands to give up her seat resulted in her arrest. Her act of civil disobedience led to the year-long Montgomery bus boycott and a significant court decision that found bus segregation unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Parks suffered years of harassment for her role as a public face of the Civil Rights movement. Still, history has quickly recognized her contributions to equality through that 1955 peaceful act of defiance, and her later work, which has had a lasting impact on America’s ongoing effort to repair its racial inequities.

Article and photo by

Jacob Loeb

Construction, Infrastructure

Pavement Repairs on SE 85th Part of Sidewalk Infill

On January 27th, contractors working with the Portland Bureau of Transportation laid new asphalt along a segment of SE 85th Avenue behind the Fubonn Shopping Center, temporarily closing the street to through traffic. This work is part of the Jade and Montavilla Multimodal Improvements Project, which created sidewalks from SE Division Street to SE Powell Boulevard along SE 85th Avenue. This segment was previously only partially paved with a pot-hole-laden gravel shoulder. Now cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers have a consistently reliable north-south route away from the busy 82nd Avenue main street.

This repaving work between SE Clinton and Brooklyn Streets adds to previous work that created new sidewalks on SE Clinton Street from SE 84th to 87th Avenues, with crews converting the existing gravel road to a modern street surface from SE 84th Place to 87th Avenue. West of 82nd Avenue, SE Tibbetts Street is receiving sidewalk infill, with some blocks lacking consistent pedestrian pavement down to SE 78th Avenue. Most sidewalks in the project area will receive updated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant curb ramps.

Construction site featuring two multi-story buildings with yellow siding, blue tarps on the roof, and exposed windows. Heavy machinery and building materials are visible in the foreground, along with a red car parked nearby.
40-unit Jade Apartments at 2905 SE 89th Avenue

The new street infrastructure connects to a secondary entrance to the Fubonn Shopping Center, which contractors constructed in April 2025, providing access to the east side of the grocery store and retail site from SE 85th Avenue. Designers located the new entrance on the northeastern corner of the shopping complex. These updates were part of a long-term plan to improve multimodal access in a section of Portland’s Jade District that has the capacity for significant housing development on large, underdeveloped properties. Crews are currently wrapping up external construction on the 40-unit Jade Apartments at 2905 SE 89th Avenue, and Oregon Metro recently purchased a 1.46-acre property at the intersection of SE 90th Place and SE 89th Avenue for housing development.

Construction workers operating heavy machinery on a street, with a large truck parked nearby and bare trees lining the sidewalk.
Crews laying new pavement along SE 85th Ave connecting the roadway between new sidewalks

Other developers are similarly looking to increase housing density in the area as private and public projects create the infrastructure needed to support the new people walking, driving, and rolling through this area bordered by SE Division Street, SE 82nd Avenue, SE Powell Boulevard, and Interstate-205. Look for work to be completed on SE 85th Avenue in the coming weeks, along with increased usage as people discover this improved route in the Jade District.

Article and photos by

Jacob Loeb

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